“DePreist, who is currently director of conducting and orchestral studies at the Juilliard School in New York and laureate music director of the Oregon Symphony, holds two Penn degrees, a bachelor’s in business from the Wharton School and a master’s in communications from the Annenberg School for Communication. Penn also awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1976.

“'What does a person with degrees in business and communication do? If you are James DePreist, you combine your Penn-taught skills with your natural talent to become one of America’s finest orchestral conductors,' fellow alumnus Joseph Glossberg said, in presenting the award. 'You have been defying even your own expectations throughout your life.' 'I am deeply honored and touched,' DePreist said. 'This was a wonderful reason to come back to campus. The University of Pennsylvania remains an important part of my history and life.'” [Full Post] [James DePreist is profiled at AfriClassical.com] James DePreistAfrican American ConductorPenn AlumnusInaugural AwardCreative SpiritUniversity of Pennsylvania